Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 337 near Brenham, TX — 2026-09-07

Investigation ongoingCEN26LA312
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Date
2026-09-07
Location
Brenham, TX, USA
Airport
11R
Aircraft
CESSNA 337
Registration
N2657S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On September 7, 2026, about 1248 central daylight time, a Cessna 337C airplane, N2657S, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Brenham, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 post-maintenance test flight. According to the pilot, who is also a mechanic, he had recently purchased the push-pull configuration airplane on September 3, 2026. The airplane had been based for the last several years with the previous owner at the Brenham Municipal Airport (11R), Brenham, Texas. According to the aviation operations manager at 11R, he refueled the airplane prior to the flight. All four of the fuel tanks were topped off with 100 low lead fuel and he ensured the four fuel tank caps were all secured. The pilot reported there were no issues noted during the runup sequence. The airplane taxied from the ramp to runway 16 for the local area flight. During the takeoff sequence, the pilot reported the rear engine sustained a total loss of power at the point of rotation. The pilot performed a forced landing on a ranching property, about 0.85 miles to the southeast of the departure end of runway 16. The airplane came to rest upright on a flat grass field, right next to a metal fence and barn. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The airplane is pending recovery from the accident site to a secure location for future examination. The airplane, which is known as a Super Skymaster, was built in 1968. The airplane was equipped with front and rear Continental Motors IO-360-C reciprocating engines and McCauley Propeller Systems D2AF34C59 (front) and McCauley Propeller Systems D2AF34C61 (rear) two-blade aluminum propellers. According to the meteorological reporting station located at 11R, the calculated density altitude near the time of the accident was 2,571 ft.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Takeoff
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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